2022

Miguel Agnaldo Queiroz Amaral POV

Leaving my shift I went into the small rented house that I can't even afford, today I missed a job I'm a bricklayer and I was doing a job for a rich family in the neighborhood, but they didn't like the adjustment I made to the wall, honestly the wall was going to fall, I didn't want to change something in the client's plan, but I thought it was better than losing all the material and having to build the whole wall again, but the lady got mad and fired me, at least she paid for the time it took I worked, but not enough for my expenses.

I know I made a mistake by doing something without asking, I'm feeling really bad and now I have to find another job.

But getting some service to pay my rent is going to be impossible unless I go to some nearby beach town.

Fuuu

I, like any Brazilian boy, dreamed of becoming a soccer player, but after my mother's death I gave up on all my dreams. Where am I now? Living a shitty life. Without going to any university, at least I completed high school. Now I'm a mason, nothing against the profession, but my mother and my uncles gave me a good education and I screwed up, but now it's too late for regrets.

Stop thinking about it, I turn on my television and watch the match between Brazil and Croatia in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

I sing the anthem and watch the ball roll.

The first half was bad for Brazil, but the second half was dominated by the Brazilian team.

That was hand! Thief Judge!

Damn it! This goalkeeper is very good, I think watching the defense against Neymar's shot.

We're going into overtime, I'm not going to lie, I'm scared.

Will we lose in the quarterfinals?

Neymar! Goal!

I hear Galvão Bueno's voice and start screaming.

"Goooooolll! IT'S BRAZIL FUCKING!"

Fred tries to advance, but the Croatian defender manages to stop him.

I watched the Croatian's counterattack and goal.

Let's go to the penalties.

The Croatian hits the ball in the middle while Allison goes left.

I saw Rodrigo's penalty and he missed the penalty.

Damn it! How can he put such a young boy on for the first penalty? Damn coach!

I watch the rest of the kicks and get nervous when Marquinhos takes his penalty.

Marquinhos kicks with his right leg and hits the crossbar.

The dream of being a six-time champion is over.

How did Brazilian football decline so much? What happened to the national team coach to make so many stupid decisions in this game? And Fred instead of defending went on the attack, it was just holding the game, but they do that!

I cry a lot when I see the sad boys on our national team, after watching Thiago Silva's interview I turn off the television and prepare something to eat.

As I fry my egg I think about what would happen if I followed my dream, would I be there? Playing with Casemiro, Richarlisson and Neymar.

Would I bring the sixth championship to Brazil?

Maybe, but it's too late for that.

After that I go to bed, I'm tired and in need of sleep.

2005

Miguel Queiroz [1] POV

Touch

Touch

Damn it! Someone at the door, what time is it? I am tired.

I went on automatic to the door, only to realize one thing, this was not my house.

This is the house where I lived with my mother.

And I'm lower. What is that? My hands don't have calluses and they feel new and small like a child's.

I run to the bathroom, in the mirror I see the face of a child between 9-10 years old with light brown skin and dark blonde hair.

That's me kid! My God, what is this?

Back in time? How crazy.

I'm dreaming?

Like this? Was I sleeping just now and turned into a child?

It is possible?

I get dizzy until I realize something that makes me anxious.

I am a child, maybe my mother is still alive.

Entering her room I find everything empty.

Damn it! What Day is Today?

Arriving at the fridge that has a calendar I see the date, September 19th, the day of the accident. Crap! Is this a nightmare? I'm on that day.

Touch

Touch

Touch

There's someone at the door, I go running to open it hoping it's my mother.

Leaving the kitchen I bumped my shoulder on the edge of the counter.

What a pain! Is this really a dream? It's not possible, I've never had a dream so real, that I even felt pain.

Speaking of which, what time is it? When my mother is on call, Dona Ana comes to stay with me.

Dreams always have mistakes in details like that.

I go to the clock to confirm that it's a dream, but I see that it's 10:07 am and Dona Ana leaves every day at 9:00 am to work at the grocery store across the street.

Damn it! Maybe this is not a dream?

Pear! There's someone at the door, maybe it's time for the police to break the news of my mother's death.

I turned the key, turned the knob and opened the door.

I came across 2 tall men or maybe I'm short, with police uniforms.

"Are you Miguel Agnaldo Queiroz Amaral?"

Damn it! I remember that he said the same words and it's the same man, the difference is that Dona Ana was with me, probably because I woke up late she wasn't there or something, honestly I don't care about that now.

I speak with nervousness evident in my voice.

"Yes, officer. Did something happen?"

My voice shakes and threatens to crack, these memories are too much for me.

One of the officers looked at me with a mixture of pity and sympathy.

The other policeman speaks without the slightest sensitivity the worst news of my life.

"Emily Queiroz died, there was a shootout, she was coming back from duty and went to a sports store and bought a children's boot, on the way back she was shot twice in the stomach."

Damn it! This again! She died! Why the hell did I ask for that damn boot! Not! Not!

I can't breathe, damn whoever made me relive that memory.

"Boy, are you okay?"

I'm having a panic attack. Obviously I'm not well, I just remembered that my mother died because of me, my request and my selfishness.

[…]

Huuf!

Huuf!

Is this really true? Am I in a hospital?

Is this a regression or someone else's bad joke?

But the feel of the hospital gown on my body, the cold sheet on my back, and the pain in my shoulder when I move prove that this is real.

I have to face reality, I'm in the past in 2005, I'm currently 10 years old.

Actually today is September 19th my birthday, also the day my mother died.

The day my uncle came to pick me up so I could live with him in Salvador.

But how did it happen? Was it a miracle? Although I am a Protestant I am not a very religious person. I rarely went to church, the most I did was pray at night before going to sleep, so why would God make me go back to now?

What if God made me come back because after my mother's death? He couldn't make me come back 1 day earlier at least.

I'm probably being ungrateful, but how did he want me to feel? Well for not being able to see my mother again?

And there is still the possibility of having a less religious explanation for all of this.

It's really confusing, I shouldn't think about it right now.

Meanwhile, a nurse came in, I recognized her, she was a friend of my mother's, Cecília if I'm not mistaken.

"Gael?"

"Aunt Cecilia?"

At that moment I realized that my memories are clearer, I remembered events from my childhood better. For example, the 27-year-old me would never remember Cecília, but the 10-year-old me would.

Cecilia looks close to tears as she hugs me.

"I'm sorry, Gael.Your mom is with the little angels in heaven."

Her embrace feels comfortable and I cry into her chest until I fall asleep again, putting my worries to rest.

[…]

A/N: Much of what I plan will be dedicated to the development of the protagonist, football will not be the only main theme of the work, if you want to give me feedback I would appreciate it.

[1] Shorten his name to not get too big, but his full name is Miguel Agnaldo Queiroz Amaral.